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Sales of the Yaris and Yaris Hybrid are on a roll and to keep up with demand, Toyota announced it will start operating a third production shift at its European Yaris factory starting June 2014.

This will allow Toyota to boost production of both the Toyota Yaris and the Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

Toyota added this production boost was needed for a particularly strong sales demand for the Yaris Hybrid

Toyota explained the Yaris is unique among small cars in having the option of Toyota hybrid technology, bringing the easy driving, fuel efficient hybrid drive to a wider audience than ever before.

The three-shift operation will require an increase in manpower by 500 production employees, added Toyota, which will bring total employment at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) in Valenciennes in northern France to more than 4,000.

The company also said until the third shift is in place, some Saturday production is planned to meet the demand.

“Sales forecasts have led us to increase production plans by around 15 per cent for 2014, for a total annual production volume of around 220,000 units,” confirmed Koreatsu Aoki, president of TMMF.